Top Ten Best NFL Rivalries

The Top TenXW

1Steelers vs. Ravens

The Steelers and Ravens bring to life the very definition of a rivalry. Back when these two teams had the top defenses in the league, these games were full of hard hits, sacks, punts and turnovers and only a few points would determine the winner. As the defenses lost their power, they became some of the best shootout games to watch. Perhaps the best part of the rivalry is the respect for one another. Joe Flacco said beating the Steelers without Big Ben on the field just isn't the same and I'm sure Ben would say the same thing regarding Joe. Although this may be one of the newer rivalries in Steelers nation, it is by far the best, by far the biggest, and some will even argue that it is one of the best in the entire sports world.

Steelers vs Ravens is really on here twice. The Browns vs Steelers is really Steelers vs Ravens. The Ravens were the Browns fromn 1995 to who knows when? We (Steelers fans) hated the Browns, but when they moved to Baltimore, our hatred moved with them. That current team that occupies Cleveland is a joke. They've been there for 14 years and Pittsburgh has probably lost to them 2 or 3 times total. Steelers vs Old Browns/Current Ravens is the greatest rival in the NFL. If you count the 13% that is going towards Browns vs Steelers, and add it to Steelers vs Ravens, it is clear that this is, hands down, the rivalry in football!

Ravens-Steelers is the best NFL rivalry because of its intensity and genuine hatred. The Ravens and Steelers truly hate each others guts. The Ravens and Steelers have genuine disdain for each other and you also have seen that with specific players as well, especially Suggs and Ward. Also, games between the Ravens and Steelers are almost always close competitive games. A quality rivalry has to have real competitiveness to it and Ravens-Steelers certainly does. The fact that the majority of Ravens-Steelers games are low scoring as well. The feeling of rivalry tends to translate best when defense is the name of the game and most Ravens-Steelers games are defensive struggles. A final important fact is that both teams have been consistent contenders for the majority of the time the Ravens have existed and even had 3 playoff meetings so the stakes.have been high often. Every ingredient needed for a quality rivalry is here.

Ravens love to crush the Steelers. And Ravens fans love it when they do.

Go find Mike Ditka he can give you an insider how much blood is in the water between Green Bay and Chicago. They have rivaled each other before the NFL had grown to its size today. Two of the oldest teams in the league. I remember seeing a quote by Mike Ditka saying how much he wanted to beat Green Bay at Lambeau however the issues normally followed with dealing with ice covered fields that being GB and Chicago hardly ever played in Lambeau at a time that wasn't touching about 10-5 degrees F.

these teams have the most championships than any team not the steelers cowboys or 49ers - olhrocks

I understand why Bears-Packers is higher but Ravens-Steelers. No. As a Cowboys fan Nothing I hate more then the Redskins. They are the worst team ever. I hate Washington. This really means something. This rivalry is very much higher then Steelers-Ravens. The Ravens have barley existed. Only reason, Ravens used to be the Browns.

I honestly don't know why this isn't at least number 2 on the list maybe even tied for number one (but I respect that the Packers and Bears is a MUCH older rivalry). As a Cowboy's fan I instantly hate anyone that is a Redskin fan, or anyone in our division for that matter. We all hate each other with a passion.

I know how you feel, I'm a bills gan and I HATE the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets. The patriots are cheaters too. Also our rivalry with the dolphins started with the dolphins insulting are team.

This is the only rivalry in pro sports that has a college feel to it how it's not number one is insane

Now its Broncos-Patriots sorry it's T. Brady vs P. Manning move out of the way Colts and A. Luck your rivalry with the Pats is done

Luck vs. Brady is always something fun to look forward to, even though the Pats are a better team all round.

year after year they fight for the entrance to the superbowl. the pats are a better team, but this is an intense rivalry. basically the only one on here with two super bowl caliber teams. - henryperson

Not so much a rivalry. Packers are the older sibling with the vikings being the littlest one so they hate packers si much while packers don't see them as a threat. Bears are the brother that's just a year younger than the packers so they are the real rivalry.

Underrated rivalry, it may not be as historically strong as Bears-Packers, obviously who could top that history? Back to Vikings-Packers, there is lots of history between the two teams, from Antonio Freeman's improbable OT catch to Moss mooning the crowd, on top of that, fans of both teams flat out hate each other. This has all the ingredients of a fierce rivalry. - Apples23

Vikings and Packers great rivals, border battle 105 just happened few months ago

There are few football games closer and angrier than when the Broncos play the Raiders. Blood and fantastic plays are a norm, the only reason it shouldn't be higher is that the gap still exists right now. But soon you will see tremendous football again.

Whoever wrote this needs their football card revoked...Paul Brown did not found the Browns...it was founded by Arthur McBride in 1946 and the team was named after Paul Brown

This a literal brother vs brother rivalry. Paul Brown founded the Browns and when he was kicked out of the organization, he founded the Bengals in spite of Cleveland. Not to mention Sam Wyche trash talking the Cleveland fans after he found trash on the field. This should be #1 - hawkeye2019

This is our oldest rival and most hated. It doesn't matter where either team stands with the rest of the league - when these two teams meet - it's a battle - and they play like it's a super bowl.

The fans hate each other and the other team - and any player that leaves one of these teams and joins the other is a traitor and hated for life.

However, as a Falcon fan - I've made the trip to the SuperDome almost every year for over 30 years. These are the two regular season games that I would miss only through dire emergency - and the ones I hate, dread, look forward to and love the most every year.

If we sweep the saints and lose every other game I'll smile knowing were better then those swamp rat saints. the week before we play them is a holiday, Saints hate week a time of joy of bashing those cheaters

After Katrina..Atlanta was infested with saints fans which increased the hate more!

The Contenders

Have always hated the Cowboys. Especially in the early 90's. Big division rivalry here.

Cowgirls suck, most of their fans are left over bandwagon fans from their "glory days" nowadays they're horrible with tony the choke artist as their QB. Nothing makes me happier then seeing the Cowboys lose. Love when the Giants block them from the playoffs.